The UK is to pass 'Good Samaritan Laws' to protect rescuers and heroes from facing lawsuits and prosecution. At the moment, people who step in to help people in danger can face prosecution themselves. This seems incredible, but some emergency workers face being sued if they breach health and safety rules even if it meant saving a life. Ministers drawing up the new law highlighted the case of 10-year-old boy who drowned while trying to rescue his little sister from a pond. Police community support officers stood and watched. Regulations required water rescue training. In another case, a 44 year old woman died from a heart attack brought on by hypothermia after she fell into a mine shaft. Health and safety rules prevented a paramedic going in to help her. And another example is shown when paramedics took an 82-year-old woman home after a fall, and then watched her drag herself up the stairs to her front door wearing a leg splint. Regulations would not permit them to carry her.

www.telegraph.co.uk

Britain is following in the footsteps of Australia, where similar laws offer protection against negligence claims for doctors, emergency workers and civilians. In France, citizens are actively encouraged to step in and help people in need and risk prosecution if they do not. It seems common sense that ordinary people in society should be protected from legal action. If someone finds the courage to help a stranger while they're being robbed, or drowning, or clinging to a precipice, surely they shouldn't have to worry about the consequences to themselves.

Good Samaritans prove there is goodness in the world. Acts of kindness don't have to be life-saving events. Care can be shown in a hug, a helping hand, or a moment of understanding. A smile of encouragement to an elderly person walking by with the aid of a stick gives them pride in their achievement. Pick a discarded toddler's toy off the floor in a shop and chat to the hassled mother. You will calm her enough to carry on. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, or help to deliver meals to the infirm in your district.

I'm sure Health and Safety regulations are a good thing to a certain extent. No one wants rescue workers to be harmed through recklessness but they have gone too far the other way now and are now getting in the way of common sense.Soon it will be firefighters having to run away from fire in case they burn themselves and police having to run away from criminals.

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Francene Stanley:﻿Author﻿I use news items in my fantasy novels.

Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books on the sidebar below?I blogged 260 days last year. Link.